Indonesia to develop shopping tourism to boost economic growth

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, has announced plans to develop shopping tourism as a new driver for national economic growth. Speaking at the Indonesia Retail Summit and Expo 2026 in Jakarta, Hartarto emphasized the need to encourage both domestic and international tourists to spend more on shopping and culinary experiences within Indonesia.

Data reveals that payments for travel services by Indonesian tourists traveling abroad have reached approximately USD 6.7 billion. The government aims to capture a portion of this expenditure by strengthening the domestic retail sector. Hartarto described the development of shopping tourism as a ‘low hanging fruit’ that can bolster the national economy, particularly as domestic consumption remains a primary driver of growth and the retail sector demonstrates resilience amidst global trade challenges.